No: 85, 23 March 2018, Press Release Regarding The European Council Conclusions

Republic Of Turkey Ministry Of Foreign Affairs 23.03.2018

We regret the wording of yesterday’s European Council Conclusions on Turkey
condemning Turkey’s “illegal actions” in the Eastern Mediterranean and the
Aegean Sea and underlining “full solidarity” with “Cyprus” and Greece.

Such wordings solely based on the Greek Cypriot and Greek claims are
unacceptable and create an opportunity for some other countries to hide
behind them as well.

The EU’s expression of unconditional solidarity to a country based solely
on membership status regardless of the legitimacy of the country’s position
shows the EU’s incapacity to remain objective in the Cyprus issue. As long
as this stance continues, it will not be possible to accept the EU even as
merely a third party in the Cyprus issue.

We find it peculiar that our NATO allies within the EU support the actions
of the Greek Cypriot Administration that do not comply with the
international law. At the same time, they adopt a discourse that is far
away from showing any solidarity with Turkey, a country devotedly fighting
against various terrorist entities that also constitute a threat to the EU.

Turkey is working to create a positive agenda in its relations with the EU.
Adopting such conclusions with the pressure of some member countries will
not contribute to the improvement of our cooperation.